3.8M views · Jul 6, 2013 · 1:36 · 0 HN recommenders · 3 mentions · discussed 2013–2014
SpaceX footage of the Grasshopper reusable rocket prototype flying 325 m before landing on its pad. It was the first test to use the full navigation sensor suite and closed-loop control for a precision landing.
Why Hacker News points people here: Cited as a concrete demonstration of Grasshopper's vertical takeoff and landing, including the hover.
“Here's the most recent 325m test”HN comment, 2013
“Here's the most recent 325m test”
Latest Grasshopper test
> SpaceX is doing great implementations of pretty conservative designs. Like the other reply mentioned, they are certainly working on some technologies that are starkly less conservative. One example is the Grasshopper [1], a reusable first stage that is capable of returning to the launchpad under controlled burn. [1] Here's the most recent 325m test: this video
“here is the history of Grasshopper's public flights”
Grasshopper flight history
I upvoted this thinking it was a new test, but sadly this is an older result from two months ago. To make amends for upvoting without reading the article, here is the history of Grasshopper's public flights Date Altitude Duration Youtube 2012-09-21 1.8 m 3 seconds link 2012-11-01 5.4 m 8 seconds link 2012-12-17 40 m 29 seconds link 2013-03-07 80 m 34 seconds link 2013-04-17 250 m 61 seconds link 2013-06-14 325 m 68 seconds this video
“at one point the rocket has 0 velocity, but does not fall back to earth.”
Rocket hovers at zero velocity
I am not trolling, but trying to lead a conversation based on arguments. You, on the other side, do not have any arguments... your only argument is that I am trolling. Look, check this video: this video This is how it works - at one point the rocket has 0 velocity, but does not fall back to earth. They can do that at any altitude. You made so many false statements, that clearly show that YOU are the one that should learn about physics Your statement: "Anything less than escape velocity and the spacecraft is pulled back into the atmosphere." is simply ridiculous.
